Abstract

CHAVEZ-HERNANDEZ, Ana-María; LEENAARS, Antoon A; CHAVEZ-DE SANCHEZ, María-Isabel  and  LEENAARS, Lindsey. Suicide notes from Mexico and the United States: a thematic analysis. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2009, vol.51, n.4, pp.314-320. ISSN 0036-3634.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to investigate suicide notes drawn from Mexico and the United States (US) as these countries share geographical proximity, but markedly different cultures and suicide rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A theoretical conceptual analysis of 102 suicide notes drawn from these countries, matched for age and sex, was undertaken based on a thematic model of suicide developed by Leenaars,^1,2 across countries. RESULTS: The inter-judge reliability was adequate (.86 coefficient of concordance). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that there are more psychological commonalities than differences. Yet, as this study marks the first one using suicide notes, between Mexico and the USA, much greater study is warranted.

Keywords : suicide [psychology]; thematic analysis; comparative study; Mexico; United States.